By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/19/23
Giovanni Daddario had no doubt he’d make a good showing Friday at the Victory Events Liberty National Elite Showcase at Kirkwood Sports Club in New Castle, DE.
“I went to the showcase confident; that’s kind of what helped me be successful,” said the 2024 midfielder from Boyertown High and True Valley club.
Daddario’s confidence clearly paid off. He was named the showcase MVP by the attending coaches.
“My dodging was really good,” he said. “Every time I dodged I was able to create a shot for myself. And I think my shooting was pretty good. I think our team meshed really quickly, we all got along right away. I think we won all our games and that good chemistry contributed to my success.”
Daddario, a 6-1, 190-pounder, was a starter on the lacrosse field and the football field at Boyertown last year. He plays wide receiver and cornerback and plays on the kickoff teams and believes being a two-sport athlete helps him in lacrosse.
“I’d say my biggest strength as a player is that I am fast and athletic,” he said. “With my football background, I can use my strength to my advantage. I have a really hard shot and my dodging is pretty good.
“My defense, helped by my experience on the football field, is strong.”
Boyertown enjoyed one of its best lacrosse seasons ever in 2023, finishing 14-5 overall. Daddario believes the Bears can be a factor in the Pioneer Athletic Conference race in 2024.
“The spring season was definitely one of our better years and I am really confident about next year,” he said. “We lost some key guys, but with the people we have back and the leadership that will transfer over, I think we can be as good if not better.”
Daddario is hoping to play at the Division I level and plans to major in business administration or sports marketing and possibly entrepreneurship.
“I’m just working on my off hand and just trying to become 1 percent better every day,” he said. “And I want to get my grades up so I can have a better chance.”
Daddario said he got some good advice from his team coach on perfecting his left side dodging and shooting. “I feel like if I can dodge as well to my left as I do to my right I can be unstoppable.”
All-Showcase Team
MVP: Giovanni Daddario
Attack
Sean Monaghan 2024 Ramapo High School Brotherhood
Max Garcia 2024 Alexis I. DuPont Brotherly Love
Luke Showalter 2024 Ridley High School Delco LC
Liam Griffin 2025 Southern Regional High School Mad Dog Elite
Drew Norris 2024 Olentangy High School True Ohio
Clayton Smith 2026 Corning-Painted Post High School Gaffer Elite
Midfield
Giovanni Daddario 2024 Boyertown Area High School True Valley
Dustin Sluszka 2025 Jupiter High School True Florida
Jake Laye 2024 South River High School ProStart
Gavin Phipps 2024 South River High School ProStart
Connor Wilbur 2024 Archbishop Spalding High School Prostart
Kayden Johnson 2026 Tatnall School ETC 34’s
FOGO
Jake Kelshaw 2025 West Milford Township High School True New Jersey
Max Johnson 2024 Westminster High School Gonzo LC
Braden Shipp 2024 Wilmington Friends School Brotherly Love
D-Mid / Specialist
Gunnar Ketner 2026 Stephen Decatur High School Saltwater Mid Atlantic
Matthew Miller 2025 Abington High School Dukes Elite Helm
LSM
Sam O’Donnell 2024 Bishop Shanahan PA Roughriders
Kevin Covington 2025 Haverford School NXT
Defense
Cole Yoshioka 2024 Mars Area High School CW Elite
Lincoln Oles 2025 Greenville High School Sonics
Matt Peters 2025 Sparta High School NJ Thunder
George Cramer 2025 Olentangy Orange True Ohio
Owen Karantonis 2024 Fallston High School LRV
Talan Debruler 2024 Archbishop Moeller High School Headlines
Goalie
David Hamilton 2025 Ridge High School Upper Level Elite
Luke Solari 2024 Warwick Valley High School True New Jersey